Insulator-knurling device



1,687,759 M. F. H. GouvERNEuR INSULATOR KNURTJING DEVICE' Oct. 16,l1928. y

Filed Aug, 1e, 192? Patented Oct. 16, 1928.V

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MINOR F. GOUVERNEUR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO LOCKE INSU-LATOP. CORPORATION, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION` LAND.

0F MARY- IN SULATOR-KNURLING c DEVICE.

Application led Augustrl, 1927. Serial No. 213,857.

The invention relates to means for knurling the Wall of the socket orrecess in an insulator unit so as to vprovide means whereby the cementemployed for'securing the unit to an adjacent one or to a pin, post orthe like may have an etlicient grip which will resist torsional strains.Y

It is Well kno-Wn in the art that it is a common practice to provide orform the Wall of the socket or recess in an insulator with a series ofhorizontally' r extending alternating ridges and grooves, the termhorizontal meaning that these ridges and grooves extendcircumferentially or at right angles to the longitudinal axis of theunit. The .purpose of these ridges and grooves is to provide means WithWhich the cement may lock so that one unit will be held firmly to thenext adjacent one or to an element such as a post or the like in suchmanner as to resist sepa ration by relative longitudinal movement.However, it is highly desirable that the construction be such that therewill be adequate resistance to torsional strains.A It has been proposedto provide grooves extending longitudinally of the unit andv one methodof accomplishing this has been to employ a knurl mounted on a suitablehandle and operated manually by a workman, the knurl being pressedagainst the Wall ofthe recess or socket while the insulator unit isrotated, the knurl acting to provide grooves in one or more of thecircumferential ridges. A disadvantage of such a method is that reliance'is placed solely upon the skill of the Workman and the trueness oraccuracy of his eye and judgment and it therefore follows that the unitsare not uniform as regards the location of the knurled band and thedepth of the grooves.

lt is With the above facts in View that I have designed the presentinvention Which hasfor its object the provision of a machine ormechanical means by which the knurling may be eliected not only more quicklyand easily than can be done by hand but also far more accuy rately sothat variations in individual units will not occur.

An important object of the invention is to provide a knurling orgrooving device adapt-- ed to be directly associatedwith the mecha-'nism for forming the recess Wall with the alternating circumferentialridges and grooves so that the circumferential grooving or ridgvvide amachine of this character so constructed that the movement of theknurling 'element with respect to the Wall of the recess is limited,thereby limiting the depth of the grooves formed.

' Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this naturewhich is adjustable in so far as the position of the knurl `With respectto the top or bottom of the recess is concerned, so as to make itcertain that the knurl will engage upon one of the circumferentialridges, this featurealso making it possible to position the knurl insuch manner that it may be caused tofcontact with two of the ridges' asmight bef'found advisable in the case of very large units compelled towit-hstand severe torsional strains.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which may bebuilt right onto the circumferential Vgroove and ridge cutter thoughoperating independently thereof, theY combining of the twordevices in aunitary structure reducing the cost of the equipment necessary to finishthe insulator rin this respect. f

An additional object is to provide a device of this character which willbe simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use, posi- `tive inaction, efficient and durable in service,

looking at it kfrom the right hand side of ig ure l.

rReferring more particularly-to the draw-f' ing, the numeral ldesignates an insulator unit or shell which, in ordinary practice, may

or may not be mounted rWithin a holder but lwhich is carried by arotatable platform, the

holder and platform not being shown as they are old and ywell known andform no part of the present invention. The exact type of shell or unitis immaterial though it is of course of the variety having a recess 2therein adapted to receive the projection or stem portion onx anadjacent unit or to ,receive a supporting post or the like. The platformabove referred to and not illustrated forms part of a circumferentialridge and groove lxmtting machine, certain portions of which areillustrated .for the purpose of explaining the mounting and use of thedevice rforming the subject matter of this application. `Such Y amachine includes a frame 3, only a small portion of which islillustrated, which frame has. superposed hearings i thereon throughwhich is` slidable a shaftr preferably provided at-its upper end with aspring device G tending to draw it upwardly. However, the mounting yofthis spring device is not illustrated as it is nonwessential. At itslower end the shaft- 5 has swivelled thereon a disk-like pad? adapted toseat upon the bottom of the recess 2 of the insulator unit and of.course to rotateas the insulator is rotated. By swivelling the padupon-the shaft the former mayrotate with the insulator while the latterremains stationary with respect thereto.

While it is conceivable that my knurling device may be built. .andmounted upon the shaft 5 by itself, it ispreferable that it be combinedwith a ridge and groove cutter, this arrangement being of manifestconvenience. I have therefore disclosed the two devices as having acommon mounting here represented as including `a block-like member v8mounted between side plates 9 suitably ses curedthereto, as forvinstance by means of the screws 10, the block member having a bore 11therethrough for the passage of the shaft 5. The block member' with theside plates thereon may be mounted inany desired adjusted position alongthe shaft 5 and may be so held as by the set screw 12 for a reason to bedescribed. The circmnferential ridge andl groove cutting-y device `isrepresented as includ-ino' a shank 13 havinor a reduced stem portion 14journaled through the block member 8 and equipped; thereabove with ahandle 15 whereby thel shank may be rocked back and forthl to a desiredextent.

At itsl lower end the shank 13 carries a blocklike support 16' to whichis secured vin any suitable manner, as by screws 1 7, the cutter 18which in actualY practice may be simply a thin strip of metal bent intoa serratedfform so that` it` will becapable of cutting alternat-A ingridges and grooves 19 and 20 in the wall of y the recess Therotatability of the shankA 13' permits the cutter 18 .to be. swung intoAor out: of engagement with the wall .of the recess. as; will be readilyaerei-ent.

The essential feature of the present invention lies in the provision ofmeans for knurling one or more of the ridges 19 formed by the cutter 18,and in carrying this out I have shown a block-like member 21 pivoted at22 between the side plates 9 so as to be capable of vertical swingingmovement. This bloclc like Vmember is preferably formed with a threadedsocket 23 within which is screwed the threaded end 2i of ya stub shaft25 having a reduced end portion 26 on which is journaled a knul-l wheel27 held in place in any suitable manner as for instance by means of aretaining washer-28 andl screw 29. A lock nut 30 is preferably providedon the threaded end 24; to am against the lower face of the block-likeymember 21'for the purpose of posi; tively securing the stub shaft 25against rotation after it has been adjusted to extend tothe desireddegree beyond the'block inember. Adjustment of the stub shaft 25 tobring the knurl wheel 27 into proper relation tothe ridge or ridges 19to be cut consists in screwing the stubshaft into or out of the socket23 /to bring the knurl in the proper position, and the lock nut is ofcolarse tightened when such position is ascertained.

' A suitable handle 31 projects laterally from the block member 8, and asuitable handle 32, here shown as of angular shape, is secured to theblock member 21 in such position that it extends adjacent but inslightly spaced relation to thehandle 31. vResilient means such as theleaf spring 3.3 is preferably interposed between the handles 31 and 32for the purpose of normally urging the block member 21 and shaft l25toward the shaft 5 so that Y theknurl will bel out 4of engagement ywiththe insulator. It is generally customary to provide a spring .of thesame or av different nature in `association with the circumferentialgroove and ridge cutting device for the purpose of normally holding thecutter thereof out `of engagement with the insulator unit but thislastnamedV feature is not illustrated as itis of noV importance in thepresent instance.

In the operation, the insulator either .alone or within a forn i,notshown, is placed upon the rotatable platform, likewise not shown, andthe shaft 5 is moved downwardly, as for instance my pressing upon thehandle 31, to bring the-pad 7 into engagement with the botn tom wall `ofthe recess general type the insulator holdin-g form is of courseproperly centered upon the plat-forni so that the axis of the unit 1will coincide with that of, the .shaft 5.. After the shaft 5 has beenthus moved downwardly into proper ln machines of this position, theoperator gras-psy the handle 15 sumed that the necessary adjustmentshave previously been made in regard to the'knurl 27 so that it will bein the proper position with respect to the grooves formed by the cutter18. After the circumferential alternating ridges and grooves have beencut the handle 15 is turned or permitted to turn into such positionthatthe cutter' 18 will be withdrawn from engagementv with the unit. Theoperator then simply grasps the handles 31 and 32 and squeezes themtogether against the resist ance of the spring 33. When this is done theblock member 21 carrying the stub shaft 25 will be swung downwardly andoutwardly away from the shaft 5, the knurl 27 then coming intoengagement with yone or more of the ridges 19 so that as the insulatoris rotated .a knurled band, or band consisting of a series oflongitudinal grooves, will be formed. In view of the fact that thehandle member 32 has a very limited movement with respect to the handle31, it is apparent that the depth of the knurled grooves will be limitedand will be or at least should be uniform in all the units worked on bythis machine. After the knurling has been effected the operator simplyreleases his grip upon the handles 31 and 32 so that thev spring 33 mayswingl theknurl into inoperative position. The shaft 5 is then permittedto move upwardly to bring the entire mechanism Y above the top of theinsulator, and thelatter is removed from the supporting platform. It isof course immaterial Whether or not the insulator is mounted directlyupon the platform or is maintained within a holder. Generally, at leastin the case of insulators of comparatively small size, a holder may beunnecessary butin case of very large sizes wherethere might be more orless danger of the outstanding skirt sagging or warping, a holder wouldbe advisable. However, this is immaterial one way or the other.

From the foregoing description and a study of the .drawing itwill beapparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed and very easilyoperated machine which will effeet a great saving of time and labor inthe manufacture of insulators. Furthermore the work will be moreaccurate as there is no dependence placed upon the eye or judgment ofanoperator, the dill'erent movements heilig positively limited so that allunits made by the mechanism should be uniform. It is believed that theconstruction, operation and advantages will be readily apparent to oneskilled in the art without further explanation.

l/Vhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it should be understood that lthe disclosure is merely anexemplification of the principles involved as the right is reserved tomake all such changes in the details of construction as will widen thefield of utility and increase theI adaptability of the device providedsuch 'changes constitute no departure from the spirit of the inventionor thescope ofthe claims'hereunto appended.

. Having thusl described claim:

1. In a machine for working upon' an insulator unit having a recesstherein, the combination of means disposable Within'fthe recess andoperable to cut alternatingridges and grooves in the wall thereof whenthey insulator is rotated, and means adjacent said. means for knurlingcertain of the ridges.

2. In a machine wfor working upon an in-v sulator `unit having a recesstherein, the combination of means disposable within the recess andoperable to cut alternating ridges and grooves in the wall thereof whenthe insulator is rotated, means adjacent said'means for knurling certainof the ridges, and a common support for both kof said means, the first'and second named means being operated succes sively. Y

3. In a machine for working upon an insulator unit having a recesstherein, the combination of a support, avrockable elementcarried therebyand carrying a cutter adapted to be' brought into engagement with thewall of the recess to form alternating ridges and groovescircumferentially thereof, a supporting-element pivoted to saidv supportand-carrying a knurl, and means for moving said pivoted supportingelement to bring the knurl into engagement with one or more of theridges.

4. In a machine of the character described for working upon an insulatorunit having a the VVinvention,

recess therein, the unit being rotated, cornprising a supporting memberadapted to be engaged Within the recess, a horizontally swingable cuttercarried by the support engageable with the wall of the recess forforming alternating circumferential ridges and grooves, and a verticallyswingable member carried by the support and equipped with a Vknurlengageable with certain of the ridges for Vforming grooves thereintransversely thereof. y

5. In a machine of the character described for working upon an insulatorunit having a recess therein, the unit being rotated, comprising asupporting member adapted to be engaged within the recess, ahorizontally swingable cutter carried by the support engageable withythe wall of the recess for forming alternating circumferential ridgesand grooves, a vertically swingable Amember carried by the support andequipped with a knurl engageable with certain of the ridges for forminggrooves therein transversely thereof, and spring means normally holdingY the knurl in inoperative position.

6. In a device of the character described, a support adapted to beinserted within a recess in an insulator unit, the unit being adapt,- edto rotate, means carried by the support for cutting y circumferentialalternating ridges and grooves inthe Wall of the recess, andsuccessively operable means carried by the support for forming a seriesof grooves trans-vversely of one or more oi the ridges.

7 In a machine for Working upon an insulator having a recess therein,the insulator being adapted to be supported and rotated, asupportadapted to be engaged Within the recess and .to remain stationaryWhile the linsulator is rotated, means carried by the support forforming alternating ridges and l grooves circumijerentially of the Wallot the recess, a vertically sivingable member carried by the support, astub shatt carried by said pivoted member, almurl journaled on said stubshaft, and .handle members carried by the first named support and thepivoted support for swinging the latter to bring the knurl intoengagement with one or more of the ridges.

8. In a machine for Working upon an insulator having a recess therein,the insulator being adapted to be supported and rotated, a supportadapted tol be engaged Within the recess and to remain stationary Whilethe insulator is rotated, means carried by the. support for formingalternating ridges and grooves circumferentially of the wall of therecess, a vertically swingable member carried by they support, a stublshaft carried by said pivoted member, a lznurl journaled on said stubshaft, and handle members carried bythe first named'support and thepivoted support for swinging the latter to bringthe knurl intoengagementl with one or more of the ridges, and means for adjustingthedegree of exten: sion of the stub shaft with respect to the pivotedsupport.

9. In a machine for Working upon an insulator unithaving a recesstherein, supporting means disposable Within the'recess, all@ meanscarriedby said means andoperableto form a lrnurled area in the recessWall. v

l0. In a machine for Working uponY an insulator unit having a recesstherein with the Wall of the recess formed with a ridge, the

combination ot means disposable Within the recess, and means' carried bysaid meansv and `iovable into engagement with the ridge for knurling thesalme. t

1l. In a machine y sulator unit having a recess therein, the combi.-nation of supportingr means disposable Within the recess, a membermovablymounted upon said supporting means, a knurl carried by forWorking upon an in.-v

said member, said movable member being shi'ftable to bring the knurlinto engagement with the recess Wall. p

In testimony whereof I aliX mysignature.

MINOR f r. eouvnuunue.

